Bystock residents still waiting on home’s future

Bystock Court residents and members of their families pictured after previously receiving notice of possible closure. Photo by Simon Horn. Ref exe 4794-10-14SH To order your copy of this photograph go to www.exmouthjournal.co.uk

Archant

Residents of an Exmouth care home threatened with closure are facing an anxious wait to discover its fate.

The owners of Bystock Court in Old Bystock Drive, which looks after people with learning difficulties, announced in February that they were to consult on the future of the home, with a view to shutting it down and rehousing residents in smaller homes in the community – a proposal which provoked concern and outrage among residents’ families.

The consultation period has now ended, but home owners the Devon Sheltered Homes Trust and corporate trustees Guinness Care and Support say they will not be making a final decision any time soon.

In a joint statement, they said: “We have listened to the views of customers and their families through out the consultation and provided reassurance that we are committed to doing all we can to support customers both now and in the future.

“Their feedback will be carefully considered before any final decisions are made in the summer. In the meantime there will be no change to services being delivered at Bystock Court.”

Although the operators insist no decisions have been made, residents’ families fear the worst.

Emma Knight, whose brother James has lived at Bystock Court for 28 years, said: “Guinness say the consultation period has ended and now they need to think about everything that’s been said.

“However [local care sector professionals] will tell you that Bystock Court is closing, and that’s it.

“We can only sit and wait for the final word of Guinness, although the outcome is inevitable that Bystock Court will close.

“Guinness are not interested in saving it. They will close Bystock Court, and I think this prolonging the outcome is cruel.

“They know full well what they intend to do with the property. They are not interested in saving it long-term.”